A11ying with Sanna - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines a guide to the accessibility requirements
1 Perceivable

1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)

Conformance level: A
Criterion released in WCAG version: 2.0

Official description of the success criterion

For prerecorded audio-only and prerecorded video-only media, the following are true, except when the audio or video is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such:

  • Prerecorded Audio-only: An alternative for time-based media is provided that presents equivalent information for prerecorded audio-only content.
  • Prerecorded Video-only: Either an alternative for time-based media or an audio track is provided that presents equivalent information for prerecorded video-only content.

What to do?

Provide an alternative to audio-only and video-only content.

Why is it important?

Ensures that users who cannot hear or see the content can still understand it.

Common pitfalls

Common issues with this are failing to provide a text transcript for audio-only content or a text or audio description for video-only content.

How to test for it?

Check all the audio-only and video-only content for alternatives. Make sure the alternative

  • exists and
  • presents the same information as the media.

If the video is on a webpage, the webpage content can act as the alternative if the content matches close enough and the content is clearly marked as the alternative. Similarly, in this case, the audio-only or video-only content would act as a media alternative 

More about this criterion elsewhere